Odds Are, You’re Not Getting a Job in the NBA

Working in the NBA

Odds are, you’re not going to get a job in the NBA.

That’s realistic.

That also doesn’t mean not to try.

But what I always encourage is… Enjoy the journey.

If you’re working late hours at the gym, doing all the dirty work, and doing a bunch of things you don’t really enjoy for hopes that you’ll get an opportunity that you do enjoy one day, I’d say it’s not worth it.

If you enjoy doing the dirty work, spending all the hours at the gym, and love hoops for hoops… keep doing it.

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When I interviewed prospective interns, there were always a few things I was looking for in particular.  They needed to have a specific skill that would translate (ex. Video, Analytics, Coding), they needed experience… and I needed to know that they loved basketball for basketball and not just the NBA Dream.

Because the truth is, the NBA Dream will let you down.  I was ready to quit 2 weeks into my internship, it was that miserable for me.  But I stuck it out, committed to a year, and well, that turned into 15 years.

During interviews, I would always ask prospective interns what they are doing in basketball RIGHT NOW. Some were college GA’s or student managers, etc so those were obvious.  But for those who weren’t doing that, what were they doing?  Is it even possible to get an NBA opportunity if you’re on the ‘sidelines’?

If their answer was, “It’s always been my dream to work in the NBA!”  I’d take them off the list.  If their answer was anything like, “I’m volunteering at the YMCA, I help coach my local 5th grade team, I do analytics on the side for the local high school, etc”… I’d keep their resume at the top of our list. 

I wasn’t looking for someone with a dream, there are tens of thousands of people who share your dream to work in the NBA.  I was looking for someone who was into the journey.

Those who love basketball, even through the highs and lows can survive in the NBA.  Because you are surely going to experience much of everything.  But those who are simply chasing dream will find that dream unfulfilling in the end.

And because the odds are, you’re not getting that dream job, you have to learn to embrace and appreciate the journey along the way.  Because often, it’s on that journey you’ll find your true meaning and purpose.